Rugby: Highlanders pay for lacklustre first half

Tony Brown
Tony Brown
There will be plenty of brooding going on in the next 14 days within the Highlanders.

The best part of atoning for a defeat is to go out and win straight away.

Unfortunately for the Highlanders, they have to wait two weeks for their next game, as they have the bye this weekend.

But they have plenty of thinking to do after a disappointing 28-27 loss to the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night.

A shocking first half was followed by a comeback in the second half which almost got the Highlanders across the line.

But the Reds hung on for their first victory of the season, while the Highlanders were left to rue a disappointing all-round effort.

The first half was one of the worst 40 minutes of recent years from the Highlanders.

Tackles were missed, balls were spilled and the side never got near dominating the advantage line.

The Highlanders were down 22-6 at the break and it could have been more, so woeful was the performance by the visiting team.

Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown said the side let itself down in the first half.

"We had a really poor first half. Nothing seemed to go right. We blew a bit of energy and then started to fall off tackles,'' Brown said.

"The boys struggled with the heat and when that happens, one of the first things which starts to go is the intensity of defence.

"Then things started to come off for them, they start getting momentum and running at us.

"At halftime, we told the guys they had to get out and play. Do some quick throw-ins, use the width of the park and run them round.''

Brown said it was 30degC during the day in Brisbane on Saturday and the heat was telling for the side.

He was impressed with the comeback in the second half but the side had too much to do.

"It is a bogey ground for us. I think we've won something like twice in all the games we've played here over the years ... we just let ourselves down in that first half. In this competition, all the teams can play good footy and you've got to be ready for it. We just can't afford to do what we did in that first half.''

The Highlanders came back in the second half and had two tries disallowed, one for offside when chasing a kick and a neck hold by Joe Wheeler, but it did not do enough to win the game.

First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga tried his hardest but not many would come away from this game with credit.

The side will disband for the week and come together again next Monday.

It plays the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium on April 22.

In other games, the Crusaders beat the Force 20-19 in Perth, the Hurricanes beat the Jaguares 40-22, the Stormers beat the Sunwolves 46-19, the Lions beat the Sharks 24-9 and the Bulls beat the Kings 38-6.

 


Super rugby
The scores

Reds 28

Liam Gill, Nick Frisby, Samu Kerevi tries; Jake McIntyre 2 con, 2 pen, d-goal

Highlanders 27

Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Lima Sopoaga tries; Sopoaga 3 con, 2 pen

Halftime: 22-6 Reds 


 

Add a Comment